Police seek suspect after four ducks are killed at an O.C. park
Costa Mesa police are searching for a suspect in connection with the death of four ducks at a city park that appear to have been shot with a pellet gun.
Costa Mesa police spokeswoman Roxi Fyad said in a statement Thursday that police responded to TeWinkle Park last week and found that four waterfowl had succumbed to their wounds.
Members of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach reported that two Muscovy ducks, named Mr. Chipper and Grace; one Pekin duck, named Darryl; and one male mallard were brought to the center Monday shortly after they were discovered at the park.
Wildlife technician Jaret Davoy said a parkgoer found the ducks lying on the ground and contacted authorities.
“It was suspected before they came in that there was a mass killing event and several ducks had been shot,” Davoy said Thursday. “It wasn’t until we X-rayed them and saw the ammunition inside of them that that was confirmed.”
One X-ray, he continued, showed four metal fragments inside one of the birds. Officials at the center extracted some of the pieces and have been working with Costa Mesa police to try to determine more about the type of firearm used.
“At this time, we do not have suspect information,” Fyad said in the statement. “This appears to be an isolated incident; however, officers have extra patrols out in that area.”
Fyad confirmed that the police department had received no reports of trouble or audible gunshots at TeWinkle Park in the day leading up to the gruesome discovery.
Mayor John Stephens said in a statement that he was saddened to hear about the incident of animal abuse at one of Costa Mesa’s most popular parks.
“The city is taking measures to prevent this from happening again,” he said, encouraging residents to report news of such incidents to police so that the perpetrators can be held accountable.
Debbie McGuire, executive director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, said in a release that the resident who brought the matter to the attention of police Monday morning had seen the ducks alive and well around 7 p.m. Sunday.
“We are asking members of the public to please come forward if any information is known about the assailant,” McGuire said in the statement.
“Not only are the lives of wild animals in danger but also those of us and our loved ones. If [the suspect] were to miss their target, a stray bullet could hit an innocent person or a passing car,” she added.
Anyone who may have information that would assist Costa Mesa police in their investigation is encouraged to call (714) 754-5252.